Associate Commercial Practitioner
Department for Work and Pensions
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 17th November 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Commercial
Procurement and Contracts Management
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
Leeds – Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7UA.
Manchester – 2 St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 3AA.
Sheffield – Hartshead Square, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2FD.
About the job
Job summary
Working towards sustainable futures. Championing diversity in the workplace. At the Department for Work and Pensions, it’s all in a day’s work. From HR to Finance, Policy to Communications, this is work that sustains and supports, where everyone’s voice is heard, and our customers are at the heart of everything we do. For a career packed with possibility, a comprehensive benefits package, where we live by our values and have the opportunity to improve the lives of people across the UK, look no further.
Supporting people who need it most. That’s our purpose. Start your own career today.
Making the Difference
The DWP is one of the UK's biggest government departments, building services that make a real difference to the lives of 20 million people. Commercial Directorate (CD) is one of the leading government procurement functions, is commercially unique and presents an attractive challenge for anyone wanting to advance their procurement career.
Our Inclusive Culture
We continue to grow our inclusive, diverse culture and focus on making CD a fabulous place to work. A culture where all our people feel themselves, feel valued, empowered, and have a voice that’s heard. We do this well and as a result have a culture where innovation is driven at all levels and by everyone!
Job description
Your role will be as an Associate Commercial Practitioner within one of Commercial Categories listed below, with your role's overriding responsibility to support commercial activity within the category team and across the full commercial lifecycle.
Health & Assessment Services (1 vacancy) The Health & Assessment Services (H&ASC) Commercial Category are based across our Leeds, Blackpool and Sheffield Commercial Hubs.
- The H&ASC provides an incredibly challenging, high-profile pipeline of work, offering the opportunity to help some of society’s most vulnerable people, through the implementation and commercial management of high value and complex assessment contracts, with key strategic suppliers.
- The H&ASC is a well-established Commercial team (circa 44 members), with a great team ethos focused upon Commercial excellence, continuous improvement & knowledge share. H&ASC has recently completed a major procurement for contracts (Functional Assessment Service contracts - FAS) equating to £3bn in value. These contracts deliver assessment services which help to inform claimant eligibility to health and disability related benefits and replace the existing Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and the Health and Disability Assessment Services (HDAS) contracts. This is a great opportunity to be part of the team to support the new FAS contracts which went live on the 7th September 2024.
Service Delivery (3 vacancies) - The Service Delivery Commercial (SDC) category are based across our Blackpool, Leeds, and Manchester, Commercial Hubs.
SDC provide critical services to DWP and its customers enabling it to effectively deliver its objectives on behalf of the Secretary of State. Our contracts directly enable service delivery to millions of citizens who rely on DWP services across the country, we manage commercial contracts across the following key areas:
- Business Process Partnering - provide a wide range of services to DWP such as case review work, fraud error and debt contracts to support operational delivery across thousands of staff and millions of citizens.
- Contact Centres – provide first line Contact Services enabling customers to contact us when required and provide the right support and guidance through some of the largest contracts of this type in the UK.
- Operational Support Services – provide critical Print, Post and Data storage services to ensure we communicate on time with all our citizens, manage data and support millions of citizens who use our services day to day.
Change, Financial & Shared Services (1 vacancy) - The Change, Financial & Shared Services (CFSS) Commercial category are based across our Blackpool, and Manchester Commercial Hubs.
Change, Financial & Shared Services (CFSS) Category are central to the provision and support of key DWP functions through:
- Shared Services Category, procuring tactical and strategic critical back off functions spanning the whole of DWP, including procurement, benefit and admin accounting, HR services and Debt Management.
- Financial Shared Services, ensuring contracts are in place to facilitate banking payments to Pension and Benefit customers – in the UK and abroad, DWP staff and supplier payments, and bespoke services for unbanked customers. In addition to contingency contracts for all these payment pathways, protecting the SoS obligation. The Category also supports larger transformation programmes, adopting a business partnering approach to ensure the support and advice is consistent and considers the complex needs of large projects. This includes; Service Modernisation; Change Portfolio and Fraud, Error & Debt.
As an Associate Commercial Practitioner your work within the Category team will be fast paced, you will provide essential support on a variety of commercial activities, for which attention to detail will be key. You will be required to communicate with key stakeholders including some supplier led activity on a regular basis to ensure information collected is up to date, accurate and helps ensure senior managers are able to make informed decisions that affect the category and contract portfolio. The post holder will also support their respective line managers in all the necessary commercial activity to the enable best Value for Money solutions to be realised, undertaking procurement exercises, ensuring contact compliance and maintaining consistency. The posts are challenging, you will be pro-active and innovative in your thinking, with good communication skills and be outgoing and enthusiastic in your approach to challenges.
Key activities will include:
- Engaging with stakeholders at all levels to support business objectives and develop commercial strategies for future delivery of services within your team.
- Collation of Commercial information, undertaking contract management, supplier performance and relationship management to drive continuous improvement.
- Communicate effectively with stakeholders and suppliers on a regular basis to ensure information collected is up to date, accurate and helps ensure Senior Managers are able to make informed decisions that affect the category.
- Undertake key procurement activities across the commercial lifecycle, working with suppliers and stakeholders to place new contracts, implement solutions and manage change.
- Support their respective teams in all the necessary commercial activity to the enable best Value for Money (VFM) solutions to be realised.
Person specification
The roles and responsibilities for this position include, but are not restricted to:
Stakeholder Management / Engagement / Communication
- Strong communication and influencing skills to work with stakeholders at all levels.
- Create strong positive working relationships with key stakeholders, supporting your line manager in encouraging innovation, creation of “value add” solutions, and a strong customer service ethic.
- Engage with wider Commercial / Finance Group, and colleagues beyond the immediate team, building relationships and knowledge of the DWP Commercial environments.
- Support the drafting of internal and external communications and contract documents, gaining clearance as required.
- Manage supplier communications via our e-procurement system and act as point of contact for correspondence.
Leadership
- Play an active part in supporting Commercial Directorate values and culture.
Contract Management
- Ensure that procedures to deal with contract administration, change control, negotiations or variations to the contract are in place and managed, including Registered Files and ePS Jaggaer Solution.
- Track and monitor contractual obligations via e-procurement systems and demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office Tools – Excel, PowerPoint, Word, SharePoint, Teams – to deliver an effective and quality service to our stakeholders.
- Manage change requests and contract modifications in line with best practice guidance to deliver Value for Money.
Sourcing and procurement activity
- Support category leads by undertaking sourcing activities and lead on key parts of the procurement process using a range of routes to market and buying approaches.
- Develop insight into markets and suppliers to inform a commercial approach.
- Drafting of contracts, competition documentation and taking part in supplier evaluation.
- Compliance with commercial standards, publication notices and social value commitments.
Other
- Contribute to the timely delivery of category and CD objectives, ensuring all necessary processes, including formal stakeholder engagement and approvals are completed through appropriate governance.
- Be flexible on tasks and responsibilities as workloads within the team change.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
Leadership
- Demonstrate how you have previously worked as part of a team, taken ownership to drive an issue forward, given direction and feedback to colleagues that has produced positive results.
Stakeholder Management
- Demonstrate previous experience of working collaboratively across a range of stakeholders and gained buy-in using appropriate communication & influencing skills.
Effective Decision Making
- Demonstrate how you have analysed and understood key information to inform decision making and contributed to problem solving.
Attention to detail
- Provide evidence of how your organisation skills, focus and attention to detail have ensured accuracy, and the completion and delivery of the end goal/result on time.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
Benefits
Pay, benefits and culture
If successful you will join us in one of our brilliant DWP hub locations of Blackpool, Leeds, Manchester or Sheffield.
Our team values the ability to balance their life and their work, with flexible hours, flex-friendly, hybrid working (some time in the office, some time at home) and lots more. Flexi-time policy means that at those times when you might need to work longer to get the job done, you build up flexi-credits that you can use to start later or finish earlier or take extra days off.
Our teams are friendly and supportive – the work we do is important, but your life, health and happiness come first.
DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
- Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
- Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
- Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
- Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
- Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
- An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. To be successful, you must demonstrate your experience matching ALL of the Essential Skills listed in the job advert above. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please apply on the Civil Service Jobs website. You will be required to:
- Provide personal information.
- Enter your CV in the space provided, setting out your employment history.
- Complete a personal statement (maximum of 1250 words) which should demonstrate how you meet ALL the essential skills as set out in the job description.
Stage 1 Assessment - Sift:
At sift, we will assess your application by using your CV and personal statement only. To be successful, you must demonstrate your experience matching ALL of the Essential Skills listed in the job advert above.
Please note that you are not required to produce behaviour-based examples in the content of your CV or personal statement as these are not assessed at sift. Applications will be sifted and scored based on the information supplied in both your CV and personal statement and entered as one overall score within the results.
In the event of a large number of applications we will use the Lead Criteria Leadership to initially assess your application during the Sift stage. Candidates who pass the initial Sift may be progressed to a full Sift or direct to interview.
Stage 2 Assessment - Interview:
If you are successful at the sift stage, you will be invited to a video interview using MS Teams, where you shall be assessed on the Behaviours listed below as well as Experience based questioning.
We will assess your relevant experience against the essential criteria mentioned above and we will assess the Behaviours listed below.
Interview Assessment Elements (Success Profiles):
We will assess the following Behaviours at interview;
- Communicating and Influencing.
- Changing and Improving.
Please note that the following dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. If you are unable to meet these time frames, please let us know in your application.
- Application closing date is 17th November 2024.
- Sifting Panel: to be held W/C 18th November 2024.
- Final Panel Interviews: to be held W/C 9th December 2024.
Successful candidates will be posted to a specific role and will have the opportunity to express a preference as part of the selection process, although final decisions may come down to business need, and the skills and development needs of candidates. Standard promotion rules will apply, and successful candidates will be placed on the pay scale and terms and conditions of DWP.
Postings
Successful candidates will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences and the geographical requirements of the business.
Reserve list candidates will be posted in merit order by location.
Successful candidates will be posted to a specific role and will have the opportunity to express a preference as part of the selection process, although final decisions may come down to business need, and the skills and development needs of candidates. Standard promotion rules will apply, and successful candidates will be placed on the pay scale and terms and conditions of DWP.
Location
You will be asked for your preferences for up to 2 locations, these will tell us where you would prefer to work if you are successful. Please do not select a location unless you are prepared to accept a role in that location.
Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles here.
Successful candidates will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences, where appropriate, and the geographical requirements of the business. Dependent on your position on the merit list, if none of your location preferences remain at the point we make a job offer DWP may offer you a role at an alternative advertised location. If we are unable to offer you a role in any of your preferred locations, and you are unable to accept a role at an alternative advertised location, we will add you to the reserve list if one is being held.
The roles available will be based in:
- Blackpool Peel Park – Brunel Way, Blackpool FY4 5ES.
- Leeds – Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7UA.
- Manchester – 2 St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 3AA.
- Sheffield – Hartshead Square, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2FD.
Some travel may be required, but individuals’ circumstances will be taken into account.
Places for Growth and Social Mobility
As part of the Places for Growth Programme, we are committed to delivering a more geographically diverse Civil and Public Service that will better serve the public and ministers.
As part of this initiative, we are continuously reviewing how we recruit into each location.
Hybrid working
This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home.
This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account.
If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
Further Information
Find out more about Working for DWP
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to DWP from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.
Reasonable Adjustment
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:Contact Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Jayne Hirst
- Email : cd.policyandoperationsbom@dwp.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.
